General

Most of our trips have a minimum age of either 5 or 11 years old, depending on the physical demands of the itinerary. Check the Essential Trip Information for the minimum age required for each trip.

Trips with a minimum age of 5 are suitable for all ages, and we can even tell you in advance the age of kids already booked on that departure. Most of our travellers are between the ages of 8 and 18 years old.

The average age of the children on our trips is 8 years old. Our trip itineraries contain a lot of detail of what each day involves so we suggest parents read over the materials to ensure it suits their child – particularly looking at travel times.

Just like our regular Intrepid trips, we like to have a blend of included activities and free time. Our itineraries often have planned activities in the morning followed by free time in the afternoon. Alternatively, if we have two full days of activities we follow it with a free day to allow you and the kids to relax and refresh.

Inclusions and extras vary from trip to trip but at a minimum all accommodation and transport will be included and some meals. Check the Essential Trip Information for more details about what is and is not included.

While some activities are included on all our trips, you will also have the opportunity to participate in optional activities for an additional fee. Read the Trip Notes and Essential Trip Information for more details about what activities will be included and which will be optional.

Some of our trips might also recommend contributing towards a group kitty, which is a pool of funds your leader will use to pay on behalf of the group. This might include paying tips to local operators or buying groceries to prepare a group meal.

Yes, all passengers will require a valid passport to travel and participate on our trips (unless you have booked a tour taking place within your home country). You may also require a visa depending on your nationality and chosen travel destination.

We recommend making sure you have more than six months remaining on your passport before travelling overseas. Contact your local embassy for more information about obtaining a passport for you and your children, and whether you will need a visa to travel to your chosen destination.

You can learn more about each of our itineraries by reading the Essential Trip Information, which includes details on activities, accommodation, travel times, modes of transport and more. It’s everything you need in one handy spot.

There’s no hidden catches or conditions when you book with us. Once you’ve paid your deposit, the price of your trip is fixed. You can read our Booking Terms and Conditions for more information about booking your trip, or contact a member of our friendly staff.

Travelling companions

Our family trips are just that – for the whole family. That means you don’t have to leave aunties, uncles and grandparents at home. As long as there is at least one child under the age of 18 travelling with you, you’re a family group.

If your children are over the age of 18, our regular Intrepid tours are still a great way to enjoy the small group travel experience.

Children over 18 years of age are considered to be adults and therefore cannot participate in an Intrepid Family Adventure unless travelling with a younger sibling and their parents.

We often find the families on your tours tend to be a like-minded group, travelling from all over the world to join our trips. After getting to meet families from your home country and from other countries we find the kids often develop instant pen pals! The small group size also means there’s enough freedom for children to make new friends while the parents can have adult conversations.

Unfortunately, due to strict privacy laws we are unable to disclose any other family’s details. We can, however, disclose some basic details such as the ages of the other children booked on the same trip.

Our teenage trips have a minimum age of 10 and offer more active and challenging itineraries designed especially for older children. If you also have younger children, we will look at allowing them onto these trips on a case-by-case basis, depending on the activities on the trip and their ages.

Food

Grassroots travel means that we try to do everything the local way, and that means eating at local restaurants. The food is always freshly made and delicious, and there is generally a great variety on offer.

There are not always specific kids’ menus available, so if you feel your children might be hesitant to try the food, why not cook some of the local dishes at home before you go so they are familiar with what to expect (and maybe bring with you some more familiar snacks that you know they like).

We try to accommodate all food requirements, so make sure you advise us at the time of booking. Although we endeavour to have alternative options available, it may be difficult in some restaurants to determine if foods are 100% allergen-free. We advise that you take the same precautions as you would when eating out at a restaurant in your home country, and maybe pack snacks that you know are safe as a precaution.

There is usually a vegetarian option available, and most picnic and buffet-style meals will have lots of salads, rice dishes and breads. Unlike some big vegetarian destinations, like India, some countries do not traditionally offer a wide range of vegetarian options. Please talk to our travel experts if in doubt.

Accommodation

The accommodation we choose is clean and simple. You'll mainly stay in small, locally run, 2-3 star hotels and guesthouses that reflect the character of the area. Generally these will be a twin room with private facilities. Sometimes you'll stay in larger, more comfortable hotels or occasionally rustic accommodation with basic facilities. We use a variety of accommodation on our trips, which are chosen for their value for money, location and atmosphere. Where possible we also incorporate unique accommodation experiences, such as a night with a local tribe or sleeping under the stars in the desert.

Families of two will always get a twin room to themselves. For groups of three we will try our best to find a triple room. Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply. This means, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a fold-up bed. Where it’s impossible to provide a triple room, you can decide which of your party takes a separate single room. For families of four or more, we will most likely find two twin rooms. Where possible, we’ll aim to put you in a quadruple room.

While we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little or no control over where your rooms will be as these are allocated by the hotel operator.

We will allocate your rooms before you arrive. If you are a family that requires more than one room we will always try to ensure that your rooms are next to each other and on the same floor of the hotel.

Swimming is always a big draw for kids, so we try to use hotels with pools where possible. Depending on how far off the beaten track the itinerary wanders, there may not be hotels with pools nearby, but we’ll try to find you a freshwater lake or secluded beach where you can cool off.

While children will be supervised during all included activities, children should be supervised by their parents at all times. The level of independence children enjoy during free time is entirely up to the parent’s discretion.

The level of activity is listed on each trip itinerary. All our trips involve some degree of walking, which can range from one hour to four hours. All our teenage trips involve more active activities to suit their age range.

Please note some sightseeing will involve walking around historic sites with uneven walkways, stairs and long distances. While other sightseeing may be done using bikes.

Activities are definitely optional, and it may be possible to just watch, stay at the hotel or do some independent exploring. Either way, parents are responsible for their child at all times, so you will need to supervise if a child wants to opt out.

We often cover a lot of ground, especially on our family treks where terrain can be challenging and steep. When rain is a possibility, you will need waterproof footwear with a good grip. For any trips that aren’t specifically trekking, then a comfortable, sturdy pair of shoes such as trainers or sneakers will be suitable.

Our family experts, many of whom are parents, have specifically crafted the itineraries to make sure they run at a family-friendly pace and keep travelling time to a minimum. Plenty of free time is included for families to participate in activities that suit their interests, and group activities are designed to work around meal times.

Group leaders

Yes – our Family Adventure leaders are all experienced in working with children. They are friendly, organised and have a great rapport with the kids. They undergo extra rigorous training to make sure they can work well with the dynamic of the younger group members.

Although we employ special leaders that have relevant experience in looking after children, they are not employed to provide childcare. Leaders are present to handle all logistics and make sure that your trip runs smoothly, but parents must be responsible for children at all times.

Health and safety

Health and safety is our number one concern on all Intrepid trips. Our leaders are well trained in all aspects of health and safety, provide debriefs prior to all activities, and ensure all families are aware of any safety issues while in country, such as how to cross the road in Vietnam! You will have a local leader travelling with you at all times who can provide in country guidance and answer any questions you have about safety.

Yes, all families must have comprehensive travel insurance to cover them in the event of illness or medical emergency, preferably a policy that includes repatriation. You’ll need to provide details of insurance to your leader on Day One of the trip.

It is best to arrange travel insurance before you depart your country of origin. If you’d like assistance with arranging insurance cover, please get in touch with a member of our team.

In most countries we visit there are private, Western-style hospitals or medical centres. If you have any medical issues, your leader can contact our local operational office for advice and assistance.

If you are unwell, it is also recommended you make contact with your travel insurance provider. Your insurance provider will offer assistance, advice on policy coverage and usually have a recommended medical centre or hospital that has English-speaking medical staff.

While not required, it’s always good to be prepared for any little bumps or bruises along the way. Without going overboard, we recommend bringing a supply of Band-Aids and disinfectant, some paracetamol, motion sickness tablets (if necessary), hydrolytes (or something similar) and any personal medical items that might be needed throughout the duration of the trip.

If a family member is travelling with prescription medicine, it is recommended that they travel with extra in the case of loss or if the medication is spoilt or damaged.

We also recommend carrying a doctor’s letter of prescription with you and advising the leader on Day One of the trip of any medical conditions. If you’re travelling with any medicine that needs to be refrigerated, you must let our sales team know at the time of booking.

Please contact your local doctor or specialist traveller’s vaccination centre at least 60 days prior to departure. They can give you all the information about what specific vaccinations should be taken prior to your trip.

When it comes to participating in organised activities, we use and regularly audit trusted local operators who are well aware of the necessary safety equipment and procedures, including supplying correctly fitting life-jackets and helmets.

Your group leader will be able to offer advice on a case-by-case basis. If you are advised not to drink groundwater, we recommend that you pack water purification tablets rather than buying bottled water (it’s better for the environment).

All of the hotels we use will have Western-style flushing toilets. In some rural areas, please be advised that toilet facilities may be of a more rudimentary standard than your family enjoys at home. In these circumstances we recommend carrying hand sanitation products. Remember – it’s all part of the experience!